Behunin Cabin | Capitol Reef National Park

Roadside Attraction Behunin Cabin - Capitol Reef National Park Roadside Attraction Behunin Cabin

Capitol Reef National Park

Overview

RATING: Roadside Attraction
MAPS: Fruita, UT

Thu

Sunny. High near 54, with temperatures falling to around 49 in the afternoon. East wind around 6 mph.

54 | 29

Fri

Sunny, with a high near 57. Southwest wind 6 to 20 mph.

57 | 31

Sat

Mostly sunny, with a high near 49.

49 | 29

Sun

Sunny, with a high near 50.

50 | 25

Mon

A slight chance of snow after 5pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 51.

51 | 28

View Full Weather Details
SEASON: Any

Thu

Sunny. High near 54, with temperatures falling to around 49 in the afternoon. East wind around 6 mph.

54 | 29

Fri

Sunny, with a high near 57. Southwest wind 6 to 20 mph.

57 | 31

Sat

Mostly sunny, with a high near 49.

49 | 29

Sun

Sunny, with a high near 50.

50 | 25

Mon

A slight chance of snow after 5pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 51.

51 | 28

View Full Weather Details
Small family cabin

Small family cabin

The Behunin cabin is a great example of what early settlers in Southern Utah lived in. The cabin, built by Elijah Cutler Behunin Cabin in 1883-1884 was renovated in the 1960's by the National Park Service to preserve it for future generations. The cabin was only lived in for a year before the Behunin family moved to Fruita, but illustrates the simplicity of a settlers home, and the resourcefulness of settlers to make do with what was available. The cabin is made with sandstone and cement plaster walls, and a wood and clay roof. It is humbling by today's standards to imagine a single person living in a 13 x 16.5 foot home (215 sq. ft.), let alone a family.

From the NPS information sign:

In 1882 Elijah Cutler Behunin and his family built this cabin, and stayed a brief time until the rising river washed out their crops. Behunin was one of the first settler in the area.

A family of ten lived here. Braided rugs covered the dirt floor. Ends of dress materials became curtains. There was a fireplace to cook in, and a water supply near the door. The family probably ate outside.

Father, mother, and two smallest children slept in the cabin. The post bed almost filled one side of the room. By widening a dugout in the cliff, the older boys had a place to sleep. The girls made a bed in an old wagon box.
Cabin

Cabin

Getting There

Head east from the visitor center about 6 miles to milepost 85.1. The cabin is on the south side of the road. (About 16.5 miles east of Torrey)

Behunin Cabin from the hill behind it. A stunning setting.

Behunin Cabin from the hill behind it. A stunning setting.

Route

The cabin is right at the parking area. It is, unfortunately, hard to see or photograph the inside well. Quite a location to live!

Arch Side Trip: if you walk west from the cabin (toward the visitor center) a minute or two, either on the edge of the road, or near the base of the cliffs, you will reach 2 caves. One at ground level, and one above ground level that would clearly be very difficult or impossible to visit. The one at ground level is an arch! It is easy to scramble up into it, and well hidden from the road. Quite a neat little spot!

Note: The boulder strewn slope behind the cabin has a social trail that visits the alcove just above the cabin that contains quite a bit of modern graffiti. The views from the alcove are excellent, but if you visit, please do not add graffiti. It is both an eyesore and illegal.


Maps

Cabin

12S 485604mE 4237263mN

N38° 16' 60" W111° 09' 53"

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